Modular structural framing system

Attachment panel comprising, in combination:

• a plate including at least a first edge;
• and means for removably securing the first edge to an edge of another attachment panel to form a three-dimensional member;
• with the removably securing means comprising, in combination:
• a plurality of lugs extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in a first direction, with each of the lugs having a free edge extending in the first direction;
• and a plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in the first direction intermediate the plurality of lugs, with each of the latches having a latching edge extending in the first direction and at an angle complementary to and receiving the free edges of the lugs of the other attachment panel in a hooked relation.

Interconnect apparatus comprising, in combination:

• first and second structural members having first and second faces, with the first faces of the first and second structural members having complementary shapes abutting with each other;
• at least first ports formed in each of the first and second structural members, with the first ports extending through the first and second faces of the first and second structural members and being of the same size;
• means located in the first ports of the first and second structural members and abutting with the first ports and the second faces of the first and second structural members for clamping the first and second structural members together while allowing communication through the first ports of the first and second structural members;
• and means for removably locating the clamping means in the first ports of the first and second structural members, with at least the first structural member being three-dimensional and formed by an attachment panel, with the attachment panel comprising, in combination:
• a plate having the first face and an interior face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, with the first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and interior faces, with the port having a shape;
• and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the port and integrally extending from the plate beyond the interior face and concentric to the port, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate and having a free end defining the second face generally parallel to and spaced from the first and interior faces.

Modular structural framing system (10) comprising, in combination:

• first and second attachment panels (16) each having a plate including at least a first edge;
• means (48) for removably securing the first edge of the first attachment panel to the first edge of the second attachment panel (16) to form a first three-dimensional, structural member (12), with the removably securing means (48) comprising, in combination:
• a plurality of lugs (52) extending from and equally spaced along the first edge, with each of the lugs (52) having a free edge (54), and a plurality of latches (56) extending from and equally spaced along the first edge intermediate the plurality of lugs (52), with each of the latches (56) having a latching edge (64) at an angle complementary to and for receipt of the free edges (54) of the lugs (52) of the other attachment panel (16) in a hooked relation;
• a second structural member (14), with the first and second structural members (12, 14) having first and second faces (18, 25), with the first faces (18) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) having complementary shapes for abutting with each other;
• at least first ports (22) formed in each of the first and second structural members (12, 14), with the first ports (22) extending through the first and second faces (18, 25) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) and being of the same size;
• a unitary clamping band (28) including a central wall (30) having first and second edges, first and second outwardly directed side walls (32, 34) extending from the first and second edges of the central wall (30) respectively, with the walls (30, 32, 34) having a generally channel-shaped transverse cross section, first, circumferentially spaced flex notches (40) formed in the first side wall (32), and second, circumferentially spaced flex notches (42) formed in the second side wall (34), with the first and second flex notches (40, 42) being circumferentially spaced complementary to each other but being circumferentially offset to allow the central wall (30) to flex to form the walls (30, 32, 34) into a helix shape, with the clamping band (28) located in the first ports (22) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) for abutting with the first ports (22) and the second faces (25) of the first and second structural members (12, 14) for clamping the first and second structural members (12, 14) together while allowing communication through the first ports (22) of the first and second structural members (12, 14), with the first and second structural members (12, 14) having changeable rotational positions relative to each other;
• and means (26, 44) for preventing rotation of the first and second structural members (12, 14) relative to each other at one of the rotational positions of the first and second structural members.

Attachment panel comprising, in combination:

• a plate having a first face and a second face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, at least a first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and second faces, with the first port having a shape, and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the first port and extending beyond the second face and concentric to the first port characterized in that the tube is integral and extends from the plate allowing the first face of the plate including the integral tube to be separated from or abutted with the first face of the plate of another attachment panel, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate;
• wherein the tube has a free end defining a third face generally parallel to and spaced from the first and second faces and located on the opposite side of the second face than the first face;
• wherein the attachment panel further comprises, in combination:
• circumferentially spaced notches formed in the free end of the tube;
• and wherein the tube is frusto-shaped and extends at an obtuse angle to the second face, with the frusto-shape allowing nesting of the attachment panel.

Attachment panel comprising, in combination:

• a plate having a first face and a second face defining a thickness, with the plate being planar, at least a first interconnect port formed in the plate and extending through the first and second faces, with the first port having a shape, and a tube having a cross section corresponding to the shape of the first port and extending beyond the second face and concentric to the first port characterized in that the tube is integral and extends from the plate allowing the first face of the plate including the integral tube to be separated from or abutted with the first face of the plate of another attachment panel, with the tube providing structural stability to the plate to allow minimizing the thickness of the plate;
• wherein the plate includes at least a first edge;
• and wherein the attachment panel further comprises, in combination:
• means for removably securing the first edge to an edge of another attachment panel to form a three-dimensional member;
• with the removably securing means comprising, in combination:
• a plurality of lugs extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in a first direction, with each of the lugs having a free edge extending in the first direction;
• and a plurality of latches extending from and equally spaced along the first edge in the first direction intermediate the plurality of lugs, with each of the latches having a latching edge extending in the first direction and at an angle complementary to and for receipt of the free edges of the lugs of the other attachment panel in a hooked relation.